[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1053]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               PROPOSED CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM IS FLAWED

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, later this week the House is going to vote 
on a bill that claims to reform our campaign finance laws.
  Is there too much money in politics? Yes. No one knows that better 
than the candidates who have to raise it. But the Shays-Meehan bill 
uses a chain saw where we need a scalpel. This bill goes way beyond 
regulating the way we contribute to candidates.
  The Supreme Court ruled long ago that political donations are 
constitutionally protected speech. But even if that were not true, 
surely talking about our elected officials is protected by the first 
amendment.
  But Shays-Meehan supporters are not talking about the provisions in 
this bill that limit free speech, but those provisions are there. This 
bill would make it a crime for any citizens group, other than a 
political action committee, to criticize, praise or even mention a 
political candidate 60 days before an election.
  Madam Speaker, this is an outrage. How dare we even suggest this? The 
freedom of speech is our most cherished freedom, and it is most 
important when it comes to choosing our leaders. Madam Speaker, the 
Shays-Meehan bill is flawed and unconstitutional in this regard.

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